On Tuesday February 23rd 201 Islamic Regime security forces “captured” Abdulmalik Rigi, the 27 year old leader of the armed Balouchi/Iranian opposition group Jundullah.

Jundullah is also known as People’s Resistance Movement of Iran and is a Sunni, Balouchi group that carries out armed operations against the Islamic Regime.

There have been numerous and contradictory accounts of how Mr. Rigi was “captured.” Regime’s English language network Press TV reported that he was “arrested” in one of Iran’s southern ports when his jet was “forced” to land while taking him from Kyragyzstan to Dubai.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Agency however reported that he had been “captured” abroad and brought to Iran. Despite different reports one thing is for certain, Mr. Rigi was not simply apprehended, he was kidnapped and brought to Iran.

on their website Jundullah has claimed that the United States through a “backroom” deal helped the Regime in the capture of Mr. Rigi. There have been other speculations about the involvement of Pakistan and their help in the “capture” of Mr. Rigi.

While many Iranian opposition may not agree with Mr. Rigi’s political convictions, silence in the face of this international kidnapping may have very negative implications for Iranian opposition abroad.

If today we remain silent in the face of this international kidnapping and allow the Islamic Regime and any other country that through “backroom” deals may have helped in the capture of Mr. Rigi we risk facing similar situations with other opposition leaders and activists in the near future.

Today we must not remain silent, we must voice our concerns loud and clear. We must ask how and why Mr. Rigi was captured. We must inquire into which other countries may have been involved in the capture of Mr. Rigi in an attempt to help the Regime to meet their end of a “backroom” deal. There is no doubt that if the United States was involved in any way in the capture of Mr. Rigi, that means all opposition may be in danger regardless of where they may be.

Today Mr. Rigi was kidnapped, tomorrow they might come for the communists, then for the monarchists and then for me and you.

"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me."

Down with the Islamic Regime in IranLong Live Freedom in Iran

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About This Writer

Sayeh Hassan is a criminal defense lawyer with Walter Fox & Associates and an Iranian Pro-Democracy activist. She is the author of the shiro-khorshid-forever blog (www.shiro-khorshid-forever.blogspot.com) which focuses on the pro-democracy movement and Regime Change in Iran. Through her pro-democracy activities she stays in close contact with activists in Iran as well as retaining contacts with various human rights and pro-democracy organizations abroad. She regularly speaks at conferences, has appeared on television and radio programs and her writing has been published by publications such as National Post, Toronto Star & Ottawa Citizen. She can be contacted at sayehhassan30@gmail.com